Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has emerged as one of the most significant triumphs in 2025 thus far, surpassing sales of over 3.3 million units. What factors led to this game’s massive success? Undoubtedly, several aspects contributed, such as its reduced price and more limited scope, as suggested by publisher Kepler Interactive.
Kepler’s Matthew Handrahan explained to GI.biz that Expedition 33 is designed with a deep appreciation for the player’s time; it avoids being a game that prioritizes size over substance. “It provides ample activities and rewards, but it doesn’t artificially extend gameplay,” he said. “Instead, it’s effective because its content is carefully planned. […] It lacks any unnecessary elements or filler, which are often added to make the game bigger and bigger.
Handrahan emphasized the importance of conciseness in gaming, suggesting that sometimes less is more, and shorter experiences can often be superior.
2K’s remarks about Mafia: The Old Country seem to echo what he’s talking about, suggesting a $50 game with a straightforward narrative that doesn’t demand extensive time investment. It appears that 2K holds the conviction that there is indeed an audience for such games, and the sales figures of Expedition 33 could be indicative of this potential market.
In the interview, Handrahan commented on the increasing prices in gaming, suggesting that Expedition 33’s $50 price tag could have made the game accessible to a larger audience. With AAA games continually rising in price, this trend presents a chance for reasonably-sized games priced between $40 and $50, he noted.
He stated that anyone who played Expedition 33 wouldn’t feel they didn’t get value for their money, he added. The $50 price tag sparked criticism online when it was announced, as François Meurisse, COO and producer of Sandfall, explained, due to concerns that Expedition 33 could be a game with unfinished content and only 12 hours of playtime.
Ultimately, we chose to maintain the cost, even increasing our commitment to it, and offered an explanation for its non-AAA status. In the long run, this decision proved mutually beneficial. It served as a magnet for more players, ensured their satisfaction with their purchase, and potentially boosted sales. Consequently, the players’ viewpoint might shift regarding that pricing tier.
As a dedicated gamer, I found myself thrilled when Expedition 33 joined the Game Pass library during the same week as Oblivion Remastered. Some speculated that this simultaneous release could potentially affect the number of copies sold directly. However, Kepler dismissed such thoughts, asserting that launching alongside Oblivion Remastered didn’t seem to have any negative impact “whatsoever.
Other creators acknowledge the possibility that releasing games onto Game Pass might eat into their sales figures, yet any potential financial losses could be offset by a payout from Microsoft if the game is made available on Game Pass. However, the specific business terms of any such agreement between Microsoft and Kepler for Expedition 33 remain undisclosed.
Due to the great success of Expedition 33 so far, there’s a lot of speculation about whether Sandfall might produce additional content like DLC or expansions for the game. However, as of now, no such announcements have been made. Interestingly, the team behind it is already focusing on their next project.
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2025-05-27 19:09